If you are not versed in the modern rap drama, “stan” drama, or X (formerly known as Twitter) drama, you have probably not heard about the beef between Nicki Minaj and Meg Thee Stallion. The beef is rumored to have started 3.4 years ago due to Meg collaborating with Minaj’s long-time rap rival/enemy Cardi B on the smash hit “WAP.” With subtle wordplay and disses on different tracks, the simmering pot came to a boiling point on 26 January 2024 when Meg Thee Stallion released her single “Hiss,” a slick track calling out her oppression while referencing her public trauma. This caused Minaj to bite back on X (Twitter) and on a track on her own dubbed “Big Foot.”
This time in rap goes back to the 1990s and early 2000s when rap beefs were raw, uncut, and quite entertaining. Clashes such as Nas and Jay-Z, 50 Cent and The Game, and even Q-tip and MC Hammer (yes, that was a thing as well) come to mind. However, this one with the rap girls has one big element that none of these had—social media and stan behaviour. The term was ironically formed by Eminem—another famous rapper with beefs so devastating that he caused careers to end or to do a 180 into other genres or platforms.
Back in the olden times before Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, rap beefs were still going, but people shared opinions in the barbershop, the hair salons, at school, or even on a messenger board that would only reach a few people. Now, one Tweet (or whatever X refers to their posts) can reach millions of people and remain online forever, even if you delete it. Because we live, work, and play on the internet, one Google search, and in some cases, an easy payment for a background check, can show someone’s name, address, and phone numbers as well as their family members’ information. And if you want to show your loyalty to your fav, doxing might seem like a good idea.
To put it in a legal Canadian context, in R v OS, 2022 ONSC 4128, “doxing” is described in paragraph 21 as “…the exposure of a person’s personal data such as identity, home number or other personal identifier making the victim known to other[s]…and open to online threats and harassment.” In the past two weeks, posts of people’s opinions on the different tracks were made. Those opinion posts became posts of addresses and phone numbers. And those posts became either apology posts or ones that threaten legal recourse. It was those that made me wonder about the actual legal ramifications of doxing.
Would it be under tort law? Nuisance? Trespassing? Or even criminal charges due to the harassment one faces? Would the celebrity be charged for inciting harassment? To quote American lawyer and TikToker @theluncheonlawyer, “the law is always late. She’s never up with the time. She’s never up on the trends. If something is happening today, the law is not going to penalize it until 20 years later.” I believe that is also true for the Canadian legal system as well. Even though most of us have grown up connected to the internet all our lives, the concept and the practical usage is a relatively recent phenomenon. And frankly, I don’t expect the law to really stop the popularization of doxing anything soon. From social media, the best I have seen is to use a RICO or racketeer influenced and Corrupt Organization charge.
However, the main takeaway is that rap beef should be a sport. You rep your favourite song, have a little banter with the opposing side, and move on with your life. A criminal charge or worse is not worth a rap beef. We don’t want another Tupac and Biggie situation for no reason. Please let me enjoy my rap beef. Without the doxing. Thank you.